Letters to the Editor, Nov. 2, 2012

It seems to me that some Americans spend more time buying a used car than looking at all the issues in a presidential election. They can get sucked in by a smooth-talking, good-looking salesman who will tell them what they want to hear! Why? Because he wants to make the sale.

But - don't forget to look under the hood! What kind of engine does this car have? Does it rely only on oil and gas? How about the brakes? Are there any? What kind of transmission? -- manual or automatic? How about the wheel alignment? Are the front wheels wobbling back and forth, the left rear wheel going to the right and the right rear wheel going straight? How about the steering? Is it loose? and what about the navigational system? Are the maps drawn by people like Adelson and the Koch Brothers? They will surely tell you where to go and how to get there. And don't forget those back seat drivers. Who are they? Dick Cheney? Karl Rove?

Think carefully before you vote. Don't let that smooth talking salesman keep you from looking under the hood. That's why I'm voting for Barack Obama. He's a straight talker and I trust him.

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Phew -- I'm glad Detroit did not go bankrupt!

--Jo Loi, Lakeville

Romney's attacks on Obama are incorrect

When assessing Mr. Romney's attacks on president Obama's handling of the economy, bear in mind the following:

More that 4.5 million new jobs have been created since June 2010. Despite the huge loss of jobs during the first year and a half of Obama's presidency resulting form Bush recession and from the continuing loss of federal and state jobs due to budget cut imposed by austerity advocates, Obama's average job growth percentage (.84 percent as of July) is better than that of with President Bush.

The primary goal of the Congressional Republican party, as stated by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has been "to make certain that President Obama is a one-term president." In pursuit of this goal the Republicans have consistently blocked, by vote or by filibuster or by burial in committee, legislation proposed by Democrats that would create jobs and thus help President Obama's re-election prospects. If the president is elected to a second term the Republican reason for promoting economic failure with have vanished. Then, there might actually be some bi-partisan cooperation leading to swifter progress on the economy and on many other serious issues confronting the nation-another good reason to vote for Democrats on Nov. 6.

--Alice B. Yoakum, Lakeville

Electric companies need to move lines underground

I think that some people show superiority complex because a person's feelings of superiority conceal his or her feelings of inferiority. I would call this a psychological defense mechanism. Of course those exhibiting the superiority complex have a self-image of supremacy. In our community why most of the electrical wiring are not installed under grounded? Electric wires under ground are very important. I am surprised here in some of the communities do not understand the importance of this serious service? We are the dominant power in the whole world. If we read history books, we clearly are and have been the leaders of the free world for quite some time. We liberated France along with the British and Canadians and put an end to the the Nazi domination in Europe sixty-eight years ago. I believe that the CL&P and other electrical companies should think about this serious problem for the benefit of their customers.

--Dario Diorio, Torrington

The meat industry polutes more than any other

Frankenstorm Sandy is one more dramatic demonstration that climate change and its extreme weather patterns are now part of our future. Although we're unlikely to reverse climate change, we can still mitigate its effects by reducing our driving, our energy use, and our meat consumption.

Yes, meat consumption. A 2006 U.N. report estimated that meat consumption accounts for 18 percent of man-made greenhouse gases. A 2009 article in the respected World Watch magazine suggested that it may be closer to 50 percent.

Carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to confine, feed, transport, and slaughter animals and to refrigerate their carcasses. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

We have the power of reducing the devastating effects of climate change every time we eat. Our local supermarket offers a rich variety of soy-based lunch "meats," hotdogs, veggie burgers, soy and nut-based dairy products (including cheese and ice cream), and an ample selection of traditional vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts. Product lists, easy recipes, and transition tips are available at www.livevegan.org.